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SLEEP 2007: More Attendees, More New Findings
MINNEAPOLIS — SLEEP 2007, the 21st Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS), kicked off June 11 in Minneapolis. Many attendees and speakers marveled at how far the conference had come since its inception. This year's attendance was the largest to date, with approximately 5,800 sleep physicians, researchers and technicians attending the conference.
More than 1,100 new findings and medical developments related to sleep and sleep disorders in men, women and children, including insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movements, were presented.
Inside the exhibit hall, 140 manufacturers exhibited new products and services.
The opening day of the show saw APSS honoring key leaders and researchers in the field of sleep. Dr. Andrew Jamieson, who won the public policy award, remarked that now sleep has "a bedroom in the house of medicine." He urged others to continue the push for sleep medicine initiatives and policies.
Dr. Mark Mahowald, a parasomnias expert, gave the keynote address. Mahowald's presentation discussed his theory that all sleep disorders can be linked with parasomnias. He urged audience members to seek out new opportunities in sleep medicine by looking at objects from a different angle. Mahowald also stated that sleep medicine professionals must learn from patients. He said that nothing of scientific value comes from a sleep study without interviewing the patient.
Other highlights from the show included the following:
- The 7th Annual Blues Night June 13 at the Hyatt Regency's Greenway Ballroom featured Dr William Dement and others playing a short set of jazz and blues standards.
- In addition to product offerings at the company's booth, VIASYS offered a sneak peek of prototypes for upcoming new products in a special suite at the Millennium Hotel. Many of the offerings are expected to be released in August.
- Respironics offered educational sessions every hour on the hour on topics ranging from mask fitting and design to compliance monitoring.
- It was also announced that Dr. Alejandro Chediak, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Miami at Mount Sinai, would become the 22nd president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Dr. Mary Susan Esther was named president-elect.
- Several poster presentations June 12 discussed the importance of education for sleep therapy compliance. One such poster highlighted the work of a lab that developed a comprehensive and standardized educational and follow-up program that involves DME providers. The rate of compliance was at 83 percent for this program.
- The American Association of Sleep Apnea touted a new component of its Web site: www.sleepapnea.tv, which houses pictures, MP3 files, video and text. The organization hopes to soon make live a section on its site that will give registered users the "capability to rate masks and machines and comment about them," said Executive Director Ed Grandi.
- Select Comfort, the maker of the Sleep Number Bed which is used in many sleep labs across the country, sponsored a sleep lounge for participants to take a break between sessions. Several beds were set up enabling visitors to take a nap, grab a snack and witness pressure mapping. On the first day of the show, company representatives estimated approximately 100 people rested at the lounge.
